Dan Perry

We arrived at Treetops Resort on a Saturday morning, with a noon tee time on the Fazio Premier course. We were playing all five of the Treetops golf courses, but the Fazio-designed Premier (only Fazio course in Michigan) fit into our schedule the best, so it was first on the list, setting the standard for what we sere to expect from the other courses.

It opens with a dramatic, downhill par 4. In fact, now that I think about it, so do all 4 of the 18-hole layouts at Treetops; interesting. I decided to play the Blacks, which were a little longer than I was accustomed to (6,832 yards), but the blues were only 6,302, so what the heck, right?

Anyway, this first hole was stellar. It played to 431 yards, and all downhill, to a reasonably-sized green (which were in great shape all around).

Oddly, my tee shot landed in what I think may have been the only ground-under-repair on the whole course. No bother, although my second shot, with the downhill lie, was more of a push than a shot giving me a 5 on the opener. Not great, but I was satisfied.

The fourth is another downhill shot, but this one is a par 3. On this tee there was a woman collecting money for Junior Golf. If you hit a hole-in-one you got $2,000, or something like that. We liked her, so we donated (I think it was $20 for both of us), and no, we didn’t get a hole-in-one, but that’s OK too.

Also, she was the first person we’d seen on the course, and we were on the fourth hole. That’s another great thing about Michigan golf, and specifically Treetops in August. It seems most will either come early summer, or fall (for the color change of the trees), leaving August wide open. We had a noon tee time on Saturday on the only Tom Fazio course in the state, and didn’t see another person after the starter until the 4th hole. I love Michigan golf!

Between the fourth and fifth green were the on-course restrooms. Throughout Treetops, there were ample, nice, reasonably clean restrooms on every course. Although this is expected for resort courses, it’s still nice to see, and they were much appreciated. Here are a couple of shots.

Number seven is an easy favorite for this Fazio layout. If you’re playing from the Blacks, you’re in for a hike. Believe it or not, I got to the top, and realized I didn’t have a tee! Got my exercise on this one for sure.

Once you’re on the tee box, you’re really in for a dramatic view, and a dramatic tee shot. If you fade, there’s tons of room for trouble. If you draw, it isn’t too bad, but the slope can really play tricks on you. Check out the view and imagine your ball flight.

If you land in the fairway (big if), your approach is severely uphill. What a great hole! Here’s a shot looking back from the green. Really impressive.

The eighth is another downhill par 3, but it’s even more of a drop than the fourth hole. In addition, the wind is really in play here. My only suggestion is to play as safe as you can, and just try to hit the green. No room for being a hero here.

The ninth is probably one of the most difficult holes (at least for me) at the entire resort. The tee shot plays to a relatively thin fairway, where as the approach is uphill and almost blind. My tee shot was a pop-up, causing it to plug in the fairway (hey, at least I hit the fairway). Here’s a photo of the tee shot:

And the approach is even tougher. If you look at the next image in full view, you just might be able to see the flag. It’s left of the bunkers on the right. This is a doozie; hope for par but be happy with bogey.

The tenth tee has a phone for ordering ahead for a burger or brat. We ordered one of each, and although they could have been good, they were both undercooked (we didn’t run into this at the other courses, so it may have been the person working there.) Again, the restrooms were very clean.

Playing from the Blacks, the 11th tee is right in front of the halfway house (although it’s called the 11/18 House; get it?) It’s a 195 yard par three, with water to the right. Again, my suggestion is to play these par three’s as safely as you can. A par or bogey is a good score, but it is very easy (especially here, with the water) to make a much bigger number.

The thirteenth is a par 4 with a wonderful approach. The hole turns slightly to the left, so I decided to try to cut a little off the corner, and landed in the fairway, although on the left edge of it. My approach was nice and tight, over some interesting bunkers. I think even if I were right off the tee, these bunkers could’ve still come into play. Really interesting bunker design here.

The fourteenth is a meaty par 4, measuring 451 from the tips. The tee shot is over a hill, so there are signs to wait for the “ringing of the bell”.

Oddly, the group in front of us didn’t ring it, for whatever reason. Luckily, we didn’t hit them but honestly, a great tee shot left me about 190 in, so it wasn’t that big of a deal.

It’s kind of funny, this golf thing. This hole is rated as the #1 handicap hole, and I parred it. I’ll play the #17 or #18 handicap holes and double them, but for some reason I play the really hard holes well. What’s up with that? Leave your arm-chair psychology in the comments.

The fifteenth is a short, dogleg right, but the characteristic I want to point out is the size of the green. It is a monster! Pay attention to where the pin is here, because it could be 20-30 yards difference, easily. Here is a picture of just the green. The pin is in the front, but note how the green gets a little thin as it goes downhill, then gets fat again. This is a huge difference, so be prepared.

The tee shot on 16 is another one of those downhill, “I can hit the ball a mile” shots, so go for it! It’s a par 5, and there’s a ton of room on this one.

The finishing hole was probably the toughest finishing hole at the resort. It plays 471 yards from the tips, which is a U.S. Open length par 4. This is what my tee shot looked like.

There is a ton of trouble up the entire left side of this hole, so the safe play is to hit it out to the right. I knew, even with a perfect tee shot, that I’d probably be left with > 200 yards for a second (into a double-tiered and well-guarded green), so I decided to play it like a par 5. The tee shot was good, leaving me about 220-230 to the green.

I then hit wedge, wedge and finished with a bogey (and a respectable-for-me 92), but I had to get a picture of the bunkering on the left side of the green. If you look at this picture in a larger size, you can see the flag on the right side, where there is a large gap between the trees.

After playing all five of the courses at Treetops, the Fazio Premier is either #1 or #2 for me (it may be a tie, but we’ll save that for another blog post). I enjoyed the dramatic elevation changes, the flow of the design, and the solitude we experienced through most of the front 9. The weather was perfect, and I couldn’t have asked for a better beginning to our vacation at Treetops.

Visit my Flickr page for more Fazio Premier Golf at Treetops pictures and photos.

Other Michigan Golf Course Reviews:

Threetops Par 3, Treetops Resort, Gaylord, Michigan
Jones Masterpiece, Treetops Resort, Gaylord, Michigan
Rick Smith Signature, Treetops Resort, Gaylord, Michigan
Heather Golf Course, Boyne Highlands, Harbor Springs, Michigan
Bay Harbor Golf Club, Bay Harbor, Michigan
The Heathlands, Onekama, Michigan
Canthooke Valley, Manistee National Golf & Resort, Manistee, Michigan
Hemlock Golf Club, Ludington, Michigan
Arcadia Bluffs Golf Course, Arcadia, Michigan
Arthur Hills Golf Course, Boyne Highlands, Harbor Springs, Michigan
The Bear Golf Course, Grand Traverse Resort, Acme, Michigan

Return to the Golf Course Reviews Homepage.

Poplar Creek Country Club in Hoffman Estates, Illinois only plays to 6,321 from the back tees, but don’t let that fool you; what it lacks in raw distance, it makes up for with tight fairways, interesting greens, and the chance to use every club in your bag. For those reasons, I think this is a great track. If you’re interested in playing the game, you’ll love it. If you’re interested in bombing your driver on 14 of 18 holes, it may not be for you.

Poplar Creek Country Club has a great range, complete with a practice bunker, chipping area, and two practice greens (one by the range, and one by the first tee), so definitely show up early and warm up a little before your round.

The course starts out with a pretty straight par 5, and at only 517 yards from the tips (which I usually play), it’s definitely reachable. Be wary of the big bunker on the right, and OB to the left. If you can avoid both, you probably have a chance at going for it. The green is flanked by bunkers, but there is a little room if you overshoot, although you’ll be chipping downhill.

The second is a healthy (203 yards) par three, with a huge green. The distance can vary by 40 yards here, so be sure to pick the right club. A fade is preferred, based on the design of the green, and the bunkers up the right side.

The fifth is an interesting short par 4. You have the opportunity of hitting over the bunker on the right, and having a wedge into the green (which is basically an upside-down cereal bowl), or you can hit to the left of the trap and have a longer iron, which will be harder to stick. I’d base my decision on the wind, and your confidence in the driver. As I said, this course is tight, so if you take driver, remember that left is OB, and right is all trees.

The sixth is a potential birdie hole. A well-placed drive (really a hybrid or 3-wood is plenty) will leave you around a hundred yards, and possibly less.

The green has a large bunker in front of it, but from 100 or less, carrying it shouldn’t be too bad. The green itself is the hardest part of the hole, so focus on hitting the right distance, and stick your approach close. Good luck!

The eighth is another lengthy par 3 (201 yards). Even though it’s over water, the green is larger than it appears from the tee. Test the wind, and pick a club that will hit the center of the green, and you should walk away with a par.

The turn is made right at the clubhouse, and there’s a snackbar reachable from outside, which is nice. The men’s restroom is also accessible, from a door to the left of the snackbar. The women are out of luck; they have to go inside to find a restroom, which isn’t the best thing, but Poplar Creek is playing to its base (men).

The 10th is a relatively straight-forward par 4. My only advice here is to keep the ball in the fairway, or to the left. The right side borders the range, so there are lots of errant range balls laying around, making it more difficult than normal to locate your ball. In addition, there are trees in the way for an approach from the right, so definitely keep it left, or left-center.

The 11th is a very short hole, so hitting driver is probably out of the question. What I want to make sure you take notice of is the length of this green. From the fairway, it’s hard to see just how long and thin it is, so here’s a picture of the GPS system, to make it clear.

Twelve is a potential birdie hole, even though it’s completely uphill. If you feel confident you won’t pull it left, feel free to bomb a driver. Lots of room in the fairway, and if you really slice it, you’ll be in the 14th fairway, which will still leave you a shot into the green, so hit away!

The fourteenth is a personal favorite. For me, it’s a great hole to tee off with my hybrid. If I catch it pure, I’m left with about 100-110 to a green that slopes severely (and I mean severely) back to front. A driver may carry the thin strip of water, but it’s never worth it to me. Hit a hybrid and a wedge, and better short than long.

The fifteenth is a short par 4, but accuracy is everything off the tee here. If you want to have any kind of approach into this uphill green, trust me; pay attention to the design of this hole, put the driver away, and focus on accuracy. The landing area is pretty fat, but if you take driver, it’s probably too much, leaving lots of trouble (water, OB, trees, etc.)

Seventeen is an uphill, 520 yard par 5 that is reachable with a great tee shot. Again, there’s trouble left, but the 18th fairway is to the right, so if you feel good about not hitting a draw/hook, let this one fly.

The approach is uphill, but there’s a little room behind it, and bunkers on each side so if your short game is on, definitely go for this one in two.

The course finishes with a dogleg left par 4. The tee shot is the hard part here. It needs to be long enough so you have a clear approach into the green, but not so long that it runs into the bunkers on the right. Like I originally said, you’ll be using every club in your bag here!

Your second shot is pretty straight-forward. Keep in mind it’s slightly uphill, but other than that, go for it. If the approach is unhindered, you just might finish with a birdie.

This course is not the longest; it’s not even close, but I’ve played enough to see the value in sharpening every club, and if you understand what I mean by that, then this course is worth a round. The staff is always courteous, the beverage cart appears frequently, and rangers really patrol, rather than just waving at you as you play a 5 hour round. Give it a shot, and if you play here, leave a comment below on your thoughts.

Visit my Flickr page for more Poplar Creek Country Club pictures and photos.

Other Illinois Golf Course Reviews:

Medinah Country Club, Medinah, Illinois
North Course, Eagle Ridge Resort, Galena, Illinois
Foxford Hills Golf Club, Cary, Illinois
Cantigny Golf Course, Wheaton, Illinois
Big Run Golf Club, Lockport, Illinois
Highland Woods Golf Course, Hoffman Estates, Illinois
Harborside International Golf, Port Course, Chicago, Illinois
The General Golf Course, Eagle Ridge Resort, Galena, Illinois
Makray Memorial Golf Club, Barrington, Illinois
Whisper Creek Golf Club, Huntley, Illinois

Return to the Golf Course Reviews Homepage.

Highland Woods Golf Course in Hoffman Estates, Illinois is a Forest Preserve course that I’ve played on numerous occasions. It’s inexpensive (usually <$50), and you can often find a tee time on Saturday or Sunday morning, whereas most other area courses have permanent tee times.

It plays to 6,772 from the Blues, and 6,934 yards from the Golds, making it a very long course, which I like. Normally, we play the Blues. There is a range, although it seems a little overpriced, so even though I normally go to the range at other courses, I skip it here. Adjacent to the first tee there is a putting green, which is a plus.

The course starts out with a straight par 4, which shouldn’t cause too much trouble. The fairway is wide, and the green slopes back to front, so with a good poke off the tee, you should be hitting 8-9 iron. (It also helps to have a warm-up hole, as I skip the range.)

The second is where the fun starts. It’s a reachable par 5 (512) because the dogleg can be cut, if your driver is strong enough to clear the bunkers on the right. It really isn’t that long (maybe 230 to clear), but depending on the wind, it may play more. Note: If you really kill your driver (and I mean really, not just in your head), you may want to take 3-wood. If you go to far, you’ll run out of fairway, and be hitting your second from the rough, or worse, it’s OB.

Even if you can’t clear them, be sure to be just left of the bunkers, and you may be able to go for it in two. You’ll maybe have 210+ to the green, which is protected pretty well by bunkers on either side. If you have confidence in your sand game, fire away.

The fifth is an interesting par 4. There’s lots of room to the right of the traps for a good drive, but if you’re feeling strong, and the wind isn’t too much, you may be able to clear them.

The green is behind the bunkers, so if you aim right, you should have a good approach into them. Even if you hit in (or short) of the sand, you should still have an unimpeded shot. Here’s a picture from just short of the bunkers on the left.

Now for the sixth hole, a 571 yard par 5. I’ve played with many different partners on this course, and any regular will tell you it’s the toughest hole. My friend Rick calls it his hex hole. The tee shot is tough; if you hit it too deep, there’s water on the right and OB on the left. I’d suggest playing hybrid, hybrid, iron, but nobody ever does.

The second shot is really the make or break one here. The thing to remember is that there is an additional water hazard to the right, that you may not be able to see, depending on where your drive lands. Trust me: Play your second to the left side of the fairway; left-center is ideal. Here’s a picture of a good drive. Note that you can’t see the water hazard I mentioned but trust me, it’s there.

The ninth hole is a medium length par 4, but you can really cut a lot off this hole with a good tee shot. You’ll see the 150-yardmarker in the middle of the fairway, but there’s lots of room to the right of it to shave off a few yards. Aim over the hill on the right and let it fly; you’ll be left with a short approach:

As you finish the 9th, you’re at the clubhouse, in case you need to use the restroom, grab a soda, etc. It seems (at least on Saturday mornings) that most groups stop for one thing or another, so if you don’t, it may just add to your wait time on the tenth tee.

The 11th is a reachable par 5, as long as the tee shot is good and strong. If you can reach the 250 yard marker, you can pretty easily go for it, mainly because everything else is downhill, making it more like 220-230. Here’s a picture of the 250 yard shot:

Again, the green is flanked by bunkers, but don’t let them scare you. Here’s a shot from the green looking back, showing the severity of the downhill slope playing into this green.

The 13th is one of my favorite holes at Highland Woods, mainly because if you can par it, you’ve really accomplished something. (same goes for 14, but we’ll get there in a minute). This par three plays to 214 yards from the Blues, and if there’s any wind, it’s probably in your face. I rarely play anything more than an iron off a tee anymore, but on this hole, it happens more often than not. The green is receptive, but it’s still a long way for a par 3.

The 14th is another hole where, if you can par it, you’ve really accomplished something. It’s a 449 yard par 4 with a downhill tee shot. For a Forest Preserve course, 449 yards is a very long way, and it feels like it. The fairway shifts at about 160 or so to the right, but that really shouldn’t come into play on the tee shot. Plan on hitting a longer-than-usual iron into this green. Again, a par feels like a birdie here.

On the sixteenth tee, the only thing to think about is being right of the bunkers on the left. A strong drive could probably clear them, but there are more bunkers behind it. In addition, there’s lots of room up the right side to bail. I normally take a 3-wood or hybrid off the tee, and am rarely left with more than a 9-iron into this small green. With a good tee shot, this should be a birdie opportunity.

The finishing hole is another risk/reward hole, although more reward than risk, which is rare. It plays at 386 yards from the Blues, but the fairway slopes downwards halfway through the hole, making it a little shorter. In addition, if your tee shot carries the halfway point, it will run downhill quite a bit, leaving you around 100 yards or less. Even if you don’t try going over or through the trees, and play it safe to the right, you should only have 150 or so to the green.

This course would not be considered high-end, or posh, by anyone. That being said, there’s something great about paying $50 for a 7,000 yard challenge, where you can more often than not get a tee time on a weekend morning. Because of that, I’ll continue to play Highland Woods for the challenge (and the price), and feel comfortable recommending it to anyone.

Visit my Flickr page for more Highland Woods Golf pictures and photos.

Other Illinois Golf Course Reviews:

Medinah Country Club, Medinah, Illinois
North Course, Eagle Ridge Resort, Galena, Illinois
Foxford Hills Golf Club, Cary, Illinois
Cantigny Golf Course, Wheaton, Illinois
Big Run Golf Club, Lockport, Illinois
Harborside International Golf, Port Course, Chicago, Illinois
The General Golf Course, Eagle Ridge Resort, Galena, Illinois
Makray Memorial Golf Club, Barrington, Illinois
Poplar Creek Country Club, Hoffman Estates, Illinois
Whisper Creek Golf Club, Huntley, Illinois

Return to the Golf Course Reviews Homepage.

FaceYourManga.com has taken Flickr by storm today, with lots of my friends posting avatars they created. Being the online sheep that I am, I thought it best to create my own; behold:

Do I look angry with the star behind me? Hope not, because I’m not.

Feel free to build your own at FaceYourManga.com, and be a sheep like me!

Wordle is a great little tool that will look at any blog, RSS feed or text, and create a nifty cloud. Here’s the Wordle cloud for my site:

And here’s a link to the full-page view.

Now don’t tell me this isn’t cool, because you know it is. Go and make one for your own blog, at Wordle.net.

I first played Big Run Golf Club about 5 years ago. A vendor of mine said it was one of his favorite local courses, and kind of a secret. I always enjoy being in on a secret, so I was definitely in. Little did I know that I would get my first (and currently only) hole-in-one at Big Run! How can I not love this place?

And a close-up of the specifics:

When you first arrive, you notice the clubhouse looks unlike most other clubhouses. In fact, the more you look, the more it seems like it may have been a church at one time. Keep this in mind; you’ll be surprised.

I will say that, compared to the level of course that I’ve been playing recently, Big Run Golf Club is not at the top of the list. If you’re looking for a course that will inundate you with pampering, bathrooms on every hole, the newest carts with GPS, etc., you’re probably in the wrong place. If, on the other hand, you want to be in on the secret, and play some of the best golf in the Chicago area (especially if you appreciate elevation changes), this track cannot be missed.

The course plays 7,025 from the tips, but even from the Blues it’s a respectable 6,670. Unfortunately, the course doesn’t have a range, and there aren’t any “warm-up” holes here, so be sure you come ready to play.

The first hole is a short par 4 at 360 yards, but don’t let the distance fool you; the tee shot here has to be struck very well, and between a group of oak trees on either side of the fairway. This leaves you with an uphill approach to a green that’s so far uphill, it’s a blind shot. Like I said, no warm-up here.

Here’s a picture of the approach of a perfectly struck tee shot:

The second hole plays like the first, only longer. It’s a downhill tee shot, with an uphill, blind approach. There’s water on the left of the landing area, so be careful, and bail to the right if you can. Note the blind approach that faces you. This track is tough.

The fourth is the first par 3, and at 145 yards, it’s definitely not long. The obstacle here is the bunkering. The only real bail area is short; there are bunkers surrounding the whole green; take a look.

The fifth is the shortest par 5 on the course, at 515 from the Blues. An interesting dynamic of this course is that the four par 5’s are very difficult holes, according to their handicap rank (9, 1, 2 and 6 respectively). When the par 5’s are ranked as some of the most difficult holes on a course, you know it’s going to be demanding.

The seventh is my personal favorite, only because this is my hole-in-one hole! The tee shot is uphill, and blind, so clearly, the ace was pure luck. When I hit it, I wasn’t able to see it go in the hole, so when my group approached the green, we looked all around the rough past the green for the ball. One of my playing partners took a look in the hole for the heck of it, and lo and behold, there’s my ball. Honestly, I was on a personal high for a few days from that one!

Here’s a picture of the tee shot, followed by a close-up of the Indian that was carved out of a dead tree. (For the record, the Indian is relatively new. He wasn’t here when I hit the ace.)

The ninth is a par 5, measuring 605 yards from the Blues, and it feels like it. There are more swales in this fairway (and in the green) than I’ve ever seen on one hole. It’s also the #1 handicap hole. Here’s a picture of the view from a perfectly struck tee shot.

Adjacent to the 9th green is a snack bar that you can drive right up to. Very convenient, and there’s always someone there to attend. Makes for a quick turn.

The tenth is probably the first “easy” hole on the course (and it may be the last). It’s a downhill par 4, measuring only 305 from the Blues. Because of the downhill tee shot, it’s easily reachable, but there’s a risk with this reward. If it’s mishit, there’s trouble everywhere. Even if you lay up to the flat landing area, you should only have 100 yards or less to the flag. This is a possible birdie hole for sure. Here’s the view from the green up the hill to the tee.

The thirteenth is a great par 3 with, you guessed it, trouble all over the place. The green borders water on the front, with a bunker behind it. Luckily, the green is huge, so if you’re distance is on, you shouldn’t have too much to worry about. Try to be on the correct side of the hump in the middle of the green, or a three-putt may be unavoidable.

Fifteen is another long (600 from the tips) par 5, and plays like most of the par 5’s; Elevated tee shot, relatively flat second with a blind, uphill third. The more I write this review, the more penal this course sounds. Why do I like it so much? From the tee, you can let it fly, and on your second shot your goal is to clear the water. If you don’t clear it, here’s what your third shot will look like:

Sixteen is 175 yard par three, with very little bail area. It’s a carry over water, dead left, and bunkers on the right, in front and behind the green. The distance can vary a lot, depending on the position, so be wary, and pick the right club. It matters a lot here.

Standing on the 18th tee should be a sigh of relief, but not here. It’s a long par 5, with the most severe incline for an approach that I’ve ever seen (reminds me of the approach on the 10th hole at the Irish course at Whistling Straits, for you frequent readers.) It’s “only” 530 yards, but forget about going for it in two; the approach to the green must add at least 40-50 yards to this hole. Luckily, the tee shot is elevated, so let that baby fly!

It’s difficult to show the severity of elevation changes (especially uphill changes) with a picture, but I want to make it clear; this is a monster.

Like I’ve said, if you’re looking to be pampered, and are accustomed to the country club lifestyle, this may not be for you. But, if you really love the challenge of the game, the secret is out; play Big Run Golf Club in Lockport, IL. You’ll thank me for it, I guarantee it.*

P.S. The first time you play this course, there are so many blind shots, it’s very difficult to shoot a good round. Expect to shoot a higher than normal score. After playing it 2, 3 or more times, you start to remember where to hit it and where not to, and your score will be reflected by it.

*Guarantee not valid for anything; it just sounded good. Now go play Big Run!

Visit my Flickr page for more Big Run Golf Club pictures and photos.

Other Illinois Golf Course Reviews:

Medinah Country Club, Medinah, Illinois
North Course, Eagle Ridge Resort, Galena, Illinois
Foxford Hills Golf Club, Cary, Illinois
Cantigny Golf Course, Wheaton, Illinois
Highland Woods Golf Course, Hoffman Estates, Illinois
Harborside International Golf, Port Course, Chicago, Illinois
The General Golf Course, Eagle Ridge Resort, Galena, Illinois
Makray Memorial Golf Club, Barrington, Illinois
Poplar Creek Country Club, Hoffman Estates, Illinois
Whisper Creek Golf Club, Huntley, Illinois

Return to the Golf Course Reviews Homepage.

I’d heard a lot about Harborside International Golf, just south of the city of Chicago, and was lucky enough to play it one rainy, Sunday morning. Luckily, the rain stopped just as we were approaching the first tee, which made the course play longer, but was much better than playing in the rain.

We played the Port (or Portside) Course. There’s also a Starboard course, and by what I’ve read, the Starboard is the preferred of the two. That being said, I thought the Port was a great track, with some interesting holes and great view of the city. Now I can’t wait to play the Starboard!

The opening hole is a pretty straight-forward par 4 (I’m a fan of opening “practice” holes) but it doesn’t last long. Number two is a reasonably long par 5, with an elevated green, surrounded by bunkers. There’s also a strategically placed bunker in the right side of the fairway, which actually can wreak havoc on your second. I thought this was a welcome change; rarely is there “trouble” with your lay-up on a par 5, but there is one here, so watch out for it.

Here’s the second green looking back to the tee:

Most of you know that I pay attention to restrooms on the course and specifically, how often they are available (this happens to married men whose wives play golf). At this course, it’s really a non-issue. I passed the restroom so many times, I forgot to count, and that’s no lie. They are clean, readily accessible, and the course is built so that you’ll pass them often. A+.

The third is a reasonably short par 4, at 374 yards. Do everything you can to stay out of the bunkers; you’ll thank me later. If you do avoid them, this is a potential birdie hole.

The fourth is plenty of a par 3, at 207 yards. The green is thin and long, and there are lots of “deeper-than-they-look” bunkers in the front. A little room behind the green, but it will leave a tough lie, so try to stick something on the putting surface.

Playing 5, you can see some of the taller buildings in the city. On a clear day I’ll bet you can see a lot more.

Harborside is considered a Links-style course, and that means few trees, and lots of trouble. I took a closer shot of the birds nest-rough around the green, to prepare you. If you end up in this stuff, forget it.

The ninth is a par 5 with lots of trouble. How can there be trouble on a Links course, you might ask. Well, here are two perfect examples. One, note the tall grass on the left side of the fairway. This type of grass hugs the left side all the way up the fairway.

And here’s what a ball looks like when it’s buried in this grass. Two words; Forget it.

Secondly, we found a little “friend” soaking up the sun on the ninth, very close to this tall grass. Doesn’t look like much and he basically ignored us, but be wary. This is the definition of trouble.

Playing ten gives you one of the best views of the city. I zoomed all the way in, so it’s not the best picture of the group, but it’s still worth including.

The twelfth is a strong par 4, with trouble left, bunkers right, and a smallish green. The tee shot is key here, so be careful.

Starting with the fifteenth, the final four holes are really something to behold. This is a downhill par 3, with wind at your back, and depending on pin position, could be a very difficult hole. The green is shaped like half of a bagel, which can also make for dramatic changes to the distance, and the club selection. Good luck here; most of my group ended in the sand.

The 16th is a downhill par 4 with a green surrounded by water, sand and junk. Be careful on your tee shot, as there’s trouble on both sides of the fairway too. The one negative I found at the Port course was on this green. There were an abundance of geese here, because it’s so secluded from the rest of the course, and kind of on the tip of a peninsula. Of course where there are geese, there are droppings, meaning the green was covered. It was so covered, that a long putt was out of the question. A border collie would potentially fix this problem.

The seventeenth is a wonderful hole, and even though only a par four, offers you a risk/reward option. You can hit a shot to the fat part of the fairway to the right, but you’ll be left with a long second into a strong wind. Your other option is to cream a driver, and cut over some of the water and sand to the left, leaving you a shorter iron to the green. Either way it’s a tough hole, and it’s going to be in the wind, so base your decision on your confidence in your driver.

The eighteenth is a 502 yard par 5, which seems short, until you factor in the wind. I hit my best tee shot of the day, and a mediocre hybrid, and was still left with a full 7-iron. There’s water to the left all the way up, and strategically placed bunkers around the green. This is one of the most demanding finishing holes I’ve ever played. You’ll really need to gather yourself mentally to par this one; it’s brutal.

Even though I shot a very large number at the Harborside International Port Golf course (yes, it broke the three-digit mark, but just barely; ouch), it wasn’t so brutal that I wouldn’t come back again. In fact, I’m excited about playing the Starboard, as it’s been rated a little better than the Port. For me, either one is a challenge, and a welcome addition to my roster of local courses.

Visit my Flickr page for more Harborside Golf pictures and photos.

Other Illinois Golf Course Reviews:

Medinah Country Club, Medinah, Illinois
North Course, Eagle Ridge Resort, Galena, Illinois
Foxford Hills Golf Club, Cary, Illinois
Cantigny Golf Course, Wheaton, Illinois
Big Run Golf Club, Lockport, Illinois
Highland Woods Golf Course, Hoffman Estates, Illinois
The General Golf Course, Eagle Ridge Resort, Galena, Illinois
Makray Memorial Golf Club, Barrington, Illinois
Poplar Creek Country Club, Hoffman Estates, Illinois
Whisper Creek Golf Club, Huntley, Illinois

Return to the Golf Course Reviews Homepage.

Foxford Hills Golf Club is a great course that is a little tough to get to, but easily worth it. It’s located in Cary, Illinois, north of Barrington. It’s very close to Chalet Hills, for those that have played there.

We arrived with about 45 minutes to spare, so I bought a small bucket, and headed to the driving range. The range wasn’t your usual, flat football field with flags at different distances. It was actually very wide, with elevation drops to different flags. Luckily, I had my new toy (a Callaway range-finder) to help me figure out the distances.

The one defining feature of this course would have to be the bunkers. I was continually impressed throughout the course on the shape, size and placement of the bunkers. As you view some of the images, take special note of them; they really are impressive.

The carts didn’t have GPS, but luckily the scorecard is a multiple-page card, which includes a quasi-yardage book right in it. It is a nice touch that I haven’t seen elsewhere. Here’s a view of the inside, showing distances for the front 9:

The opening hole starts out simple enough, with a shortish par 4. If your driver is on, go ahead and carry the bunkers on the left. It shouldn’t be too much of a carry (200 yards or so), and it will leave you with a very short approach to a large, receptive green. (For reference, I played the Golds at 6,590 yards.) A possible birdie to start; great stuff!

The second is a par 5 that is probably impossible to reach in two. By distance alone it is reachable, but the green has water in front, and is thin and not very receptive. I didn’t take any chances. Kate hit the ball very close to the water, and a new friend popped his head up to see what was causing all the noise. Hi Kermit!

Also, the bunkering in front of the green is worthy of an image. Although difficult to see, the bunkers divide the green from the water.

The fifth hole is a short downhill par 4, with water to the right of the green. I’d suggest a hybrid or long-iron; I flushed a 4-hybrid, and had 110-120 to the flag. Here’s a shot looking from the green back up to the tee.

There are restrooms available between the 5th green and 6th tee. They look like they were built into the back of a city building, but they were fine for what they were meant to be used for, and Kate was glad to see them, and not a porta-pottie.

The 6th is a monster par 5 (and the number one handicap hole). There’s a sign that asks you not to cut the corner because of children playing. I originally thought this was a negative, until I finished playing the hole. There is no way to reach this thing in two. It’s 595 yards from the Gold tees with an uphill tee shot. There really isn’t a need to cut any corners here. Here are a couple shots, first the tee shot and then the third. Again, note the bunkers.

The ninth is a great downhill par 4. I’ve always liked the shots where it feels like a well-struck drive could go for miles, and this is that type of hole. It also is a great view, which is rare among courses surrounded by homes. Again, here’s the tee shot and the approach. Note the greenside bunkers.

Since we were only a twosome, and had foursomes in front and behind us, we decided to head to the clubhouse at the turn. Under normal conditions, this is not really an option at Foxford Hills, so be prepared for it. At most golf courses, you can plan on stopping at the clubhouse after 9 for a soda, sandwich or a restroom break, but not here. We decided to split a ham sandwich. Now I’m accustomed to the inflated prices at golf courses for food and beverage, and kind of expect it. $3 Gatorades, $4 beers; it is what it is. I do have to say that I was surprised that a ham sandwich and a small bag of chips was $7.50. Luckily, the sandwich was pretty thick with ham, but still. I don’t think I’ll be having a sandwich here again any time soon. Here’s my half:

The 10th is a 530 yard par five that turns towards the right. Plan on hitting your tee shot up the left side; everything slopes to the right. Again, the bunkering around the green was phenomenal; take a look.

The 11th (called Slice of Heaven) is another of those holes where you feel like you can drive it a mile. The wind blows left to right (if not directly in your face), so aim up the left side to keep it out of the bunker collection on the right. The approach is uphill, so plan on an extra club.

The 12th is a fairly straight-forward short par 4 (only 301 from the Gold tees.) With water up the right, and unbelievable bunkering, I laid up with my trusty hybrid, and hit a 90 yarder to the green.

Starting with the 13th hole, there are very few homes bordering the rest of the golf course. In fact, there are a few holes without any homes. It was so noticeable that Kate mentioned to me that it reminded her of Michigan (and for those that don’t know, we love Michigan golf.) There is no higher compliment from us!
The 14th green is actually surrounded by tall trees, making you feel like nobody else is around. The same goes for the 15th and 16th, but I don’t want to jump too far ahead. Let’s look at the ridiculous bunkering on the par three thirteenth:

The fourteenth is much tougher than it looks like from the tee. There’s water on the right of the fairway, and strategic bunkers on both sides, making accuracy of your tee shot very important. The approach is uphill, and don’t be afraid to hit it. Although there are trees behind the green, there’s lots of room to play.

Fifteen is the signature hole; a downhill, potentially reachable par 5. If you hammer your drive down the left-side, or hit a deep draw, the green is receptive enough to go for it in two. There’s water in front of the green, but there’s room behind it, and a bunker (surprise, surprise.) Here’s a view of the second shot (left-side of the fairway), and then a shot from the green back up the hill towards the tee.

The 16th is probably my personal favorite hole on the course. Downhill tee shot, and severely uphill approach. There’s some water at the bottom, but it’s basically out of play. Here’s the tee shot:

The sixteenth is called “Babbling Brook” but we couldn’t figure out why. The water at the bottom is stagnant. Then we found it, on the left side of the fairway. There is an actual brook, although not visible unless you’re really looking for it. Keep this in mind, because a hook off the tee will probably put you in it. This picture was taken from about 100 yards short of the green, looking back to the tee.

The course finishes on a hole called Oak Alley, and it’s pretty obvious why it’s so named.

The approach is one of the more interesting ones on the course. Big bunker left, and water to the right. On the scorecard/yardage book, the green looks smaller than it is, so don’t be too afraid. Just make sure it’s straight.

When we originally started the round, it was raining, and slow play (mainly because we were only two, so not the courses fault), and it seemed like an average round of golf. Then I started noticing the unbelievably impressive bunkering, and by the time we hit the last 5-6 holes, was in love with the course. I would definitely recommend this to anyone, even the seasoned player. There’s enough challenge here for everyone.

Visit my Flickr page for more Foxford Hills Golf Club pictures and photos.

Other Illinois Golf Course Reviews:

Medinah Country Club, Medinah, Illinois
North Course, Eagle Ridge Resort, Galena, Illinois
The General Golf Course, Eagle Ridge Resort, Galena, Illinois
Cantigny Golf Course, Wheaton, Illinois
Big Run Golf Club, Lockport, Illinois
Makray Memorial Golf Club, Barrington, Illinois
Harborside International Golf, Port Course, Chicago, Illinois
Highland Woods Golf Course, Hoffman Estates, Illinois
Poplar Creek Country Club, Hoffman Estates, Illinois
Whisper Creek Golf Club, Huntley, Illinois

Return to the Golf Course Reviews Homepage.

Although I’ve played Markay Memorial Golf Course a few times in the past, this review will be based on the Sunday morning I played it, which happened to be the Sunday of the 2008 British Open (Yay Padraig!) Here’s a shot of the corner of the clubhouse you pass just before getting to the bag drop.

Our entire foursome arrived at least an hour prior to tee time to hit the range, which unfortunately was closed, due to the rain from the previous evening. In addition, the course was cart-path only, which is kind of a pain if you’re not expecting it, but after seeing how soaking wet some of the early fairways were it was totally understandable.

Although the course was wet, it was supposed to be pretty hot that Sunday, and it was. Luckily, there were coolers packed with ice cold water bottles throughout the course. Not a necessity, but a very nice touch.

Three of the four in our group decided to play the Silver tees that day, instead of our regular Gold. The course was so wet, we knew we wouldn’t get any roll (and we didn’t). That meant the first hole was an uphill 387 yard par 4. I remember hitting just barely into the right rough, and still having an approach to the flag. If I would’ve gone a few yards farther, I would’ve had to punch it, so better left than right off the first hole.

The second is a downhill par 4, and about the same distance as the first hole, but tee shot placement is key. You can barely (if at all) see the flag from the tee. My suggestion is to aim for the middle to right side of the fairway, and hit a tee shot so you’re left with about 120-130 yards. In that range, you’ll have a perfect shot at the flag. Remember, the middle of the fairway is your friend here, and key if you want to shoot par. Here’s a shot from the green looking back to the fairway; note the angle of the dogleg.

There are so many interesting holes at Makray Memorial, it’s difficult to pick out the best ones. A real “player” (meaning someone better than I am at golf) will really appreciate this course.

The third is a short par 4 at only 333 yards. The key is setting up the second shot. If played correctly, this is a definite birdie hole. The green slopes back to front, making it receptive to wedge approaches.

The fourth is a downhill par three that isn’t very difficult; until you see the size of the green. It’s 52 yards deep, and slopes away from you. Club selection is key here.

The eighth is a perfect risk-reward par four. I personally love this type of hole. Playing only 274 yards from the tee (and downhill to the green), it gives you the ability to go for it, or if your wedge game is on, have a potentially easy birdie. For those that go for it, it’s a blind shot and there’s no bail out area. Behind and to the right of the green is wet (and it slopes towards the water), and a bunker in the front right. Better short than long, but the hole is short enough, I say go for it!

The ninth is a par four that almost always plays into the wind. Be careful with the tee shot, and try to hug the middle or right of the fairway. Too far left and you could trickle into some water that you can’t see from the tee. There are bunkers on either side of this thin, long green so accuracy is important on this approach.

The eleventh is what I would call a “full” par 4, measuring 429 from the Silver tees (471 from the tips). It also plays uphill, making it that much tougher, and earning it’s place as the #1 handicap hole on the course. All water up the right side, and a semi-thin fairway make the tee shot a toughie. Focus! Your approach is uphill to a 42-yard long green, so club selection is everything here. Good luck; I took a double here.

The 12th is an all-carry par three. It doesn’t carry water, but it’s a hollow of tall grass between the tee and the green. As is true with most of this course, accuracy is critical. Luckily, one of my playing partners had this hole figured out, and missed a hole-in-one by a foot. Here’s a picture of the entire hole, followed by a shot of his tee shot.

The fifteenth is a straight-forward, very long par 5. I love this type of tee shot; you feel like the ball will go forever. With water right, and OB left, accuracy matters, but the landing area is fat enough to try to get that extra couple of yards.

Sixteen makes its way towards the clubhouse. If your driver is on (and the wind in your face isn’t too strong), you should be able to poke it out there long enough to take the water on the right out of play. If that’s the case, you can let it fly. Although there are two distinct tiers, this green is accessible so the shorter the approach, the greater the chance of getting one more birdie.

Seventeen is a straight-forward par three except… it’s LOOOONG! From the Silver tees, it plays 197 yards, and from the tips, 244! The wind should be on your back, and the green is long (lie a lot of greens here), but there are bunkers on both sides, so again, accuracy rules the day. I had the distance, but pushed it right, into a bunker.

Eighteen is a wind-in-your-face finishing par 5, and I love it. The landing area is pretty wide and open, so give it a rip, then focus on placing yourself to a good spot for your approach. As is often the case, the green has bunkers on both sides, leaving little room to bail. In addition, your third shot will probably be on a slope from left-to-right (like mine was), which may push you to the right. Seeing the impressive clubhouse from the fairway is a welcome sight.

This course was so beautiful, and in such great shape that I really didn’t mind the cart path only rule. It gave me more opportunities to take pictures, and see the course for what it really is: A well-designed and well-maintained layout, that I can’t wait to play again. Isn’t that what a golf course is supposed to be?

Visit my Flickr page for more Makray Memorial Golf pictures and photos.

Other Illinois Golf Course Reviews:

Medinah Country Club, Medinah, Illinois
North Course, Eagle Ridge Resort, Galena, Illinois
Cantigny Golf Course, Wheaton, Illinois
Highland Woods Golf Course, Hoffman Estates, Illinois
The General Golf Course, Eagle Ridge Resort, Galena, Illinois
Harborside International Golf, Port Course, Chicago, Illinois
Big Run Golf Club, Lockport, Illinois
Foxford Hills Golf Club, Cary, Illinois
Poplar Creek Country Club, Hoffman Estates, Illinois
Whisper Creek Golf Club, Huntley, Illinois

Return to the Golf Course Reviews Homepage.

Cantigny Golf is a 27 hole facility in Wheaton, Illinois. It’s hosted a number of prestigious events, most recently the 2007 U.S. Amateur Public Links.

As you drive the long driveway to the clubhouse, you’ll notice the flowers on this facility are abundant. You’ll see them on both sides of the drive, and regardless of which month you play here, something will be in season. It’s really impressive.

As you approach the clubhouse, and drop your clubs at the bag-drop, you also may notice some young people walking around with caddy bibs on. Cantigny is known for their youth caddy program, and I strongly encourage you to utilize them when possible. It really is a great program.

There are three distinct nines here; Woodside, Lakeside and Hillside. If you’re only playing 18 holes, I’d suggest the Woodside and Lakeside. The Hillside has enough challenges of its own, but the Woodside-Lakeside combo just can’t be beat.

Starting with the Woodside nine, the first three holes are probably three of the toughest holes of the entire complex. If you walk away from here at par or only 1 or 2 over, you’ve accomplished something. The first hole requires a well-struck tee shot (no “practice” holes here), that must either carry the bunkers on the right, or be placed correctly down the left, but not placed too far, as to enter the sand. My suggestion is to skip carrying the bunkers on the right, and play it safe to the left, leaving 150 or so to the green.

The second is a 521 yard par 5, but don’t even think of going for it in two. Remember, a par here feels like a birdie, and a bogey feels like a par. Plan on hitting three shots. The first just needs to land on or near the fairway, and on the second, plan on viewing the landing area. There are a lot of bumps in the fairway (to raise the slope, I’m guessing), so distance matters on your lay-up shot. The green looks a little hidden, even from 120 yards. Be precise with your approach. Here’s a view from the green looking back.

The third is a 200+ yard par three, and the pin is barely viewable from the tee. See, I told you this 9 starts out tough! There is trouble all over the place here, so be as precise as you can. Long, short, left and right are all bad (believe it or not). There is a little bail short and left, but not much.

The fifth is a par 4 with a lot of water on the right, and from the tee, it’s difficult to see just how far it juts out in the fairway. Look for the red stakes when standing on the tee, but trust me; better left than right. Plus, it should leave you a decent approach, regardless of pin position. Here’s a shot from behind the green looking back; note how far out the water is.

The seventh on the Woodside nine is a par 5 that is probably not reachable to most (522, with an uphill tee shot). The tip for this hole is to hug the left side, because the green is tucked away behind a lot of trees on the right. If you want any chance of hitting this green in regulation, be on the left hand side (unless you have a monster cut shot that you can play at will.) Here’s the view from the left side of the fairway.

The eighth is an all-carry par 3, to a double green. The shot is above average, but the view is pretty impressive in itself. To the right of the tee, you’ll see the “fox hunt” taking place, with a horse and rider on one island, and a fox on another. I thought this was pretty neat, and an interesting addition to the course. If you look at the picture in large size, they are easier to see.

All three nines finish at the clubhouse, and as you drive underneath it, you’ll find a fully-stocked (and fully-staffed) snack bar, with restrooms right inside the door. Very nice touch.

The Lakeside nine begins with a reasonable par 4 (388 yards), with a downhill tee shot, and uphill approach. As mentioned earlier, there are flowers galore here, and the butterfly pattern to the left of this green is something to behold.

The second hole is one of my favorite par 5’s on the course. The fairway is pretty thin throughout the entire hole, making accuracy important on every shot. If all goes well, your third is uphill to the green, and the flag may be viewable. The green has some serious undulation (think elephant burial ground), so be sure you’re on the correct level. If you’re on in three you know you played the hole very well. Here’s a view of the second shot.

The fourth is a wonderful, 176 yard par three, with trouble everywhere (seems to be a running theme for the par 3’s.) Short left is wet, and right is in the sand. Also, the rough surrounding the green was longer than I would’ve expected, so chipping on is tougher than usual. Long is OK, but lots of trouble coming back. The green is large, so you should be able to land it, and test your putting skills.

The ninth is one of the tougher par 4’s on the course, with the tee shot being exceptionally tough. There is no real “fat” part of the fairway here, so be careful. One of the claim to fame’s of Cantigny is the Dick Tracy bunker, located here. I took a close-up of the tee sign to make it clear. When you’re standing over it, you can see the outline, and an overhead view is wonderful. Look through the clubhouse, and you’ll see it numerous times.

Here’s a shot of the clubhouse from the ninth green. Be sure to save some time for a sandwich and a drink after your round. The view overlooking the course is wonderful, and the BBQ sandwich is just sweet enough, without being too sweet. Delicious.

The Hillside nine starts with a par 4 where the green isn’t viewable from the tee. It’s to the right, so if you play a fade, aim for the right edge of the bunkers on the left side and let it fly.

The third is a 358 yard par 4, with some significant bunkering bordering the fairway and green. I’d suggest not hitting driver, and going for accuracy instead of distance. Favor the left side, leaving yourself 130-140 for your approach. If on the left side, you should be able to go for the pin, regardless of position. I’d still suggest the center of the green, only because the greens are deep, steep, and plentiful. Take a look.

The sixth has (what seems to be) the fattest fairway on the course, so let it rip. Your approach will be slightly uphill, to the double green mentioned previously (the fox hunt will be on your left this time instead of your right.) Water surrounds this green, but it’s wide enough that it shouldn’t come into play. The green is very deep, so make sure your club selection is correct; otherwise you could leave yourself a very, very long putt.

The seventh is a long par 5, with a raised fairway up the right side. It’s kind of hard to explain, but suffice it to say that if you have the option, be up the right side rather than the left. The lies are better, and it makes the green a little more approachable. In this pic, you can barely see a playing partner of mine on the right side, on the “top shelf” portion of the fairway.

The tee shot on nine is critical; do not hit it to far or you’re wet. It’s a dogleg left, so feel free to hug the trees on the left side. I’ve hit a 4-hybrid from the Blue tees and just missed being wet, so trust me; a little less is better than a little more here. Once around the corner, the green is very approachable, with a bunker on the right. With a properly placed tee shot, this is a potential birdie hole, so be prepared for it.

If you have only have one opportunity to play 18 holes of golf at Cantigny, play the Woodside – Lakeside combination. It’s the set that they played the 2007 U.S. Amateur Public Links on, and provides not only the most challenging holes, but the most scenic as well. The Hillside nine is no slouch, so if you can’t book the Woodside – Lakeside, don’t be disappointed. I can’t imagine someone playing here and not being impressed, not only with the golf, service and pace of play, but also the scenery. I’ve played here 5-6 times, and have always enjoyed myself, even when the scores were high. I’m sure you will too.

Visit my Flickr page for more Cantigny Golf Course pictures and photos.

Other Illinois Golf Course Reviews:

Medinah Country Club, Medinah, Illinois
Big Run Golf Club, Lockport, Illinois
North Course, Eagle Ridge Resort, Galena, Illinois
The General Golf Course, Eagle Ridge Resort, Galena, Illinois
Harborside International Golf, Port Course, Chicago, Illinois
Foxford Hills Golf Club, Cary, Illinois
Highland Woods Golf Course, Hoffman Estates, Illinois
Poplar Creek Country Club, Hoffman Estates, Illinois
Makray Memorial Golf Club, Barrington, Illinois
Whisper Creek Golf Club, Huntley, Illinois

Return to the Golf Course Reviews Homepage.